In general, reflective practice is understood as the process of learning through and from experience towards gaining new insights of self and/or practice … This often involves examining assumptions of everyday practice. It also tends to involve the individual practitioner in being self-aware and critically evaluating their own responses to practice situations. The point is to recapture practice experiences and mull them over critically in order to gain new understandings and so improve future practice. This is understood as part of the process of life-long learning.
This is taken from a paper by Linda Finlay, available here. Well worth a read – it covers in more depth and with more nuance the issues you have encountered during this five week course.
In reflective practice, practitioners engage in a continuous cycle of self-observation and self-evaluation in order to understand their own actions and the reactions they prompt in themselves and in [others].
Why is it helpful to understand your own actions better?
Why is it helpful to understand the reactions we prompt in others?
Working in health and social care involves managing risk, engaging in emotional labour, dealing with complex situations and decision making where not all the necessary information or resources are available. Reflective practice is a key part of maintaining quality and safety as well as personal and team resilience.